With my recent health issues I have had to use a wide range of medical services that, for many, we take for granted.
Take for example the 911 service that we have. It is there for us for emergency services and when used correctly can be a great tool.
I used it recently and in my greatest moment of need it worked, but let me tell you, it feels like forever to get the help you need when you need it most and your only lifeline is that little thing called a phone.
We also have another first line of defense that I think is vastly under appreciated maybe because we know they're there and we see them everyday but we seem to ignore them until needed.
The first responders - police, ambulance and fire department - are used and abused on a daily basis and rarely ever get thanked by the public, especially since, in many cases, they see us at our very worst and have to make snap judgments in a very short amount of time.
I cannot say enough about the ambulance and fire crews that came in my hour of need and were sensitive to my issues and were professional.
Even though I really didn't show it at the time, I appreciated the humour they interjected into my situation and it helped that I had seen one of the ambulance crews less than two weeks earlier when I had my initial heart attack. It made me feel better about my situation having that rapport.
So all I can say is kudos to the first responders. I feel you are under appreciated but this is one person who thinks you are awesome.
Dean Soiland
Prince George
